Implantable medical device characterization system
First Claim
1. A system for permitting the acquisition from outside the body of a patient of data pertaining to medical devices implanted therein, the system comprising:
- (a) a medical device capable of subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined implant location in the body of the patient;
(b) a medical device data circuit secured to said medical device prior to the implantation thereof, said data circuit being powered by energy absorbed through the mutual inductive coupling thereof with an alternating magnetic field generated external to the body of the patient, said data circuit comprising;
(i) field detection means for inductively coupling with said alternating magnetic field, and responsive thereto for generating a data circuit signal; and
(ii) coding means electrically coupled to said field detection means for selectively loading and unloading said field detection means in a predetermined sequence of loading conditions responsive to said data circuit signal, said sequence of loading conditions corresponding to data pertaining to said medical device, and said loading and unloading of said field detection means correspondingly varying the amount of said energy absorbed from said alternating magnetic field in generating said data circuit signal; and
(c) a medical device characterization probe movable external to the body of the patient in the vicinity of said implant location, said identification probe comprising;
(i) field generation means coupleable to a source of alternating electric power for generating said alternating magnetic field; and
(ii) sensor means electrically coupled to said field generation means for producing a probe signal reflecting variations in said amount of said energy absorbed from said alternating magnetic field by said data circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for enabling the acquisition from outside the body of a patient of data pertaining to a medical device implanted therein. A characterization tag is secured to the medical device prior to the implantation thereof. The characterization tag is powered by energy absorbed through the mutual inductive coupling of circuitry in the characterization tag with an alternating magnetic field generated outside the body of the patient. That circuitry in the characterization tag is selectively loaded and unloaded in a predetermined sequence of loading conditions that correspond to data about the implanted medical device. The alternating magnetic field is generated in a characterization probe, moveable external to the body of the patient. The probe includes electrical circuitry for sensing variations in the amount of energy absorbed from the field by the characterization tag. The characterization tag is secured to the exterior of the medical device by a biocompatible potting material in a characterization tag recess or, if the medical device is assembled from a plurality of constituent parts, by permanently capturing the characterization tag between a pair of these parts. Two single fluid reservoir access ports, a double fluid reservoir access port, a septum-less access port, and prosthetic hip joint are disclosed employing the system.
645 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for permitting the acquisition from outside the body of a patient of data pertaining to medical devices implanted therein, the system comprising:
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(a) a medical device capable of subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined implant location in the body of the patient; (b) a medical device data circuit secured to said medical device prior to the implantation thereof, said data circuit being powered by energy absorbed through the mutual inductive coupling thereof with an alternating magnetic field generated external to the body of the patient, said data circuit comprising; (i) field detection means for inductively coupling with said alternating magnetic field, and responsive thereto for generating a data circuit signal; and (ii) coding means electrically coupled to said field detection means for selectively loading and unloading said field detection means in a predetermined sequence of loading conditions responsive to said data circuit signal, said sequence of loading conditions corresponding to data pertaining to said medical device, and said loading and unloading of said field detection means correspondingly varying the amount of said energy absorbed from said alternating magnetic field in generating said data circuit signal; and (c) a medical device characterization probe movable external to the body of the patient in the vicinity of said implant location, said identification probe comprising; (i) field generation means coupleable to a source of alternating electric power for generating said alternating magnetic field; and (ii) sensor means electrically coupled to said field generation means for producing a probe signal reflecting variations in said amount of said energy absorbed from said alternating magnetic field by said data circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification